sanding problems

I have resently started making bowls on the lathe and I found that they need a lot f sanding so I ordered a ten pound box of mixed sandpaper. When it came in and i tried it out that some of it is absolute junk. And I was wondering why that was its aluminum oxide paper why is it so terrible? Also what kind of paper do you use?

The blue discs don’t load up. You will eventually wear the abrasive off, but that takes a lot of sanding.

I have done a couple of bowls and dozens of pens with a single set. If you don’t tear them up and brush the swarf off between coats, they last a long time.

FWIW, I keep a natural bristle brush (cheap ‘chip brush’ from Menards) to brush the swarf off the sandpaper and the workpiece between grits. IMHO, this improves results for the same reason you get better results wet-sanding.

—Gerry

-- Gerry -- "I don't plan to ever really grow up ... I'm just going to learn how to act in public!"

Could not fine an outstanding You-Tube video on power sanding with discs, but there is a definite learning curve to it.

Quality sandpaper makes a world of difference. When sanding on the lathe turn speed to lowest RPM’s, higher RPM’s ruin your sandpaper, burnish the wood, and highlight sanding scratches and tool marks. When sanding if paper gets hot to hold you ruined it.

My goal when turning is get an off the tool finish. No, do not always achieve my goal. I look at my damage and decide what grit paper to use. So do not always start sanding with 80 grit paper. Have spent a lot of time removing sanding scratch marks from 80, & 100 grit paper. Really hurts having to remove scratches after applied finish.

Depending upon finish going to use determines highest grit will use. Oil, oil/varnish will sand to higher grit, film finish use manufacturer’s recommendation. If used a film finish will finish the finish wet sanding & polishing with micromesh. If used stearate paper will wipe with paper towel before apply any finish.

Will have alter sanding sequence depending upon wood species, oily, softwood, & hardwood. I define it further by open or close grain wood too.

There are some modest modifications to what saying here, lot depends upon wood, finish used, and sanding between coats of finish.